Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN)- Home Upgrade Incentive

Home Energy Upgrade helps residents identify ways to strengthen their home’s energy efficiency. Homeowners learn how heating, air conditioning, insulation, water, and other home systems are working together and which improvements will most effectively improve the home’s comfort and reduce energy consumption. Rebates and incentives are available for home improvements that include air sealing, duct sealing, attic insulation, high-efficiency furnaces, cooling systems, water systems, wall insulation, and more.

Bay Area Regional Energy Network- Advanced Home Upgrade

The Advanced Home Upgrade Assessment Incentive is for single family homeowners that are interested in making energy efficiency improvements customized to their home.
For more information and eligibility requirements, please visit www.bayareaenergyupgrade.org/program-overview.

Free Solar for Qualifying Richmond Homes

The City of Richmond and GRID Alternatives are excited to provide free solar systems to income-qualifying homes in Richmond and North Richmond. To date, the partnership has serviced over 199 homes in Richmond and provided millions of dollars in energy cost savings to the community. This new initiative will provide more than $2.5 million in energy cost savings for families and prevent more than 5,700 tons of greenhouse gases over the systems' lifetimes. It will also provide more than 15,000 hours of job skill-building in solar installation for community volunteers and job trainees.

To qualify, Richmond and North Richmond residents who own and live in their own home and make less than 80% of area median income may be considered to receive solar through GRID Alternatives. For example, a four-person household in Richmond with an income of $80,400 or lower would be income-qualified.

Rising Sun Energy Center- No Cost Green House Call

For seven weeks each summer, the City of Richmond and Rising Sun partner to employ youth age 15 to 22, and trains them to serve communities across the Bay Area with free 'green house calls'. At each green housecall they check the home for efficiency, install free energy and water-saving equipment, and provide personalized recommendations for further savings. The program is free and is available to any income household including renters and homeowners.

The Weatherization Program (WP)

A Federal and State funded program whose purpose is to assist low and/or fixed income residents in making their homes more energy efficient and save money on their energy bills. The program is available to Contra Costa homeowners and renters regardless of whether you live in a home, apartment, or a mobile home.

PG&E Energy Savings Assistance Program

This program provides income qualified homeowners and renters living in a house, mobile home or apartment with no cost energy saving improvements. Residents will receive a free home assessment to determine if your home qualifies for the program and, if so, the improvements to be made.

For more information or to apply, call PG&E at (800) 989-9744 or visit their website at pge.com/energysavings.

Richmond homeowners are now eligible to participate in two Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs: HERO and CaliforniaFIRST. PACE financing enables homeowners to make energy- and water-efficiency improvements and pay for them through their property tax bill. Property owners repay the assessment over 5 to 20 years and the interest is tax-deductible. Homeowners can use PACE financing to renovate projects that can increase their property values, lower their monthly utility bills, and contribute to making our community more energy independent.

Bay Area SunShares

Richmond residents are encouraged to participate in SunShares, a limited time, group buying energy procurement program that provides discounts on residential solar and electric vehicles. The program's sign-up window is from August to November.

The Bay Area SunShares program is led by the Business Council on Climate Change (BC3) aimed at leveraging group buying power to provide discounts and competitive financing options on solar installations and zero-emissions vehicles. Discounts and pricing options are listed on the SunShares website. All Bay Area residents are eligible.